Commander Fury

Hey everyone, On April 10, 2012 eight qualifying players from tournaments held across the globe will be facing each other to battle it out for the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/soulcalibur-V/">SOULCALIBUR V</a> World Championship title in Las Vegas, Nevada. With over $10,000 in prizing, arcade sticks, games and more going to the combatants, this will be an event to go down in the history books. And we’re even giving fans a chance to win cool items by tuning into the action! The SOULCALIBUR V World Championships will be broadcasted live by community stream evangelist Team Spooky, featuring hype and play by play commentary by Fighting Game Community leader Mark “MarkMan†Julio and myself, Rich “FilthieRich†Bantegui, to keep fans updated and entertained. Special guest and game director, Daishi Odashima will also be in attendance to chat about the game with fans at the event. More...

Releasing in May, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Future Soldier not only promises an engaging single-player campaign, but bone-rattling battlefields to storm in multiplayer. And now, <a href="https://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/playstation-plus/">PlayStation Plus</a> subscribers will have first access to the multiplayer beta come April 17th. The beta will be published on April 17th in the PlayStation Plus section of the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/playstation-store/">Store</a>. If you’ve elected for Automatic Downloads as a subscriber, the beta will also be automatically pushed to your <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PS3</a> when it’s released! Otherwise, you can download it when you’re ready and hop in the multiplayer action. More...

The first expansion to <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/mass-effect-3/">Mass Effect 3</a>’s critically acclaimed multiplayer experience is almost here! The Resurgence Pack is coming to <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">PSN</a> on April 10th and with it, a host of new weapons, characters, maps and more. If you haven’t had a chance yet, check out all the action in our <a href=" ">latest trailer</a>. With over 75 perfect review scores, <a href="http://masseffect.com/agegate/?url=%2F">Mass Effect 3</a> has been heralded as “The first true blockbuster game of the year,†by USA Today. This week the Resurgence Pack will dial up the action, and the best part? You can download it for no additional cost! This new multiplayer pack will include two new maps, available immediately for play after downloading the pack: Firebase Condor and Firebase Hydra. Condor is a Turian warzone outpost and a crucial asset in the defense of their homeworld, Palaven. The cool thing about Condor is you can actually see the galactic war happen all around you. More...

It’s pretty clear that March was a banner month for <a href="https://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">PlayStation Network</a>. As you may already know, <a href="https://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/journey/">Journey</a> was recently proclaimed <a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.us.playstation.com%2F2012%2F03%2F29%2Fjourney-is-psns-fastest-selling-game-soundtrack-coming-soon%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEmcnHcatPJd2YqAnQ0OydD1-IQ6A">PSN’s fastest-selling game</a>. It should come as no surprise to see that it’s also March’s top selling PSN game! Our hats are off to <a href="https://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/thatgamecompany/">thatgamecompany</a> for making a truly unique experience that you can only find on PSN. We also saw the debut of the free-to-play <a href="https://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/killzone-3/">Killzone 3 Multiplayer</a>, <a href="https://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/motorstorm-rc/">Motorstorm RC</a> and <a href="https://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/mass-effect-3/">Mass Effect 3</a>. All of them proved to be big movers and shakers as they all made their debut in the <a href="https://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/top-20/">top 20</a>. More...

Hey everybody! Now that I’m finally able to answer the two questions everyone’s been asking, the <a href="https://blog.us.playstation.com/">PlayStation.Blog</a> has graciously allowed me to address you again. Without further ado... <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/skullgirls/">Skullgirls</a> will (finally) be released in North America on PSN on April 10th for $14.99, with a European release in the following weeks. While that sinks in, check out the trailer for our eighth playable character, the disturbing Double. Ready? Good. Now, just think about it... A fully-featured<a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/02/03/dev-diary-skullgirls-is-a-feature-rich-psn-fighter/"> fighting game</a>... ...With<a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/10/27/skullgirls-dev-diary-skullgirls-perfected-pugilism/"> endless hours of online, genre-refining gameplay </a>by a tournament champ... ...With an <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/09/02/meet-the-skullgirls-the-next-generation-of-psn-fighters/">amazing cast of characters</a>, realized with stunning and smooth high-resolution 2D animation... More...

This week, the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/music-unlimited/">Music Unlimited Service</a> welcomes <a href="http://blog.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/2012/04/03/new-releases-on-the-music-unlimited-service-4312/#more-1250">new releases</a> including the eccentric Nicki Minaj, Iceland’s Of Monsters and Men, and country music veterans, Rascal Flatts. Other featured titles this week include Brandi Carlile, Garbage, Pennywise, and T.I. New to the <a href="https://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/video-unlimited/">Video Unlimited Service</a> is Steven Spielberg’s epic adventure, War Horse. In TV Shows, we welcome the April 11th return of Deadliest Catch with a sale on all Deadliest Catch episodes from season one through seven for as low as $1 an episode. Also, enjoy our Easter Sale in Collections & Sales with limited time discounts on Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, Soul Surfer, Daddy Day Care, and more family movies. Get the full details on this week’s highlights <a href="http://blog.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/2012/04/03/new-on-the-video-unlimited-service-this-week-43/">here</a>. More...

Not much in the way of megaton news to report this week....<em>unless</em> you count hearing next week’s <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">PSN</a> game and content lineup first! This week’s show is a looser affair: Join Jeff, Nick, Rey and I as we debate our most anticipated 2012 titles, our favorite couch co-op games, and share a helpful user that tip that ties into the new <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/04/03/ps3-the-first-console-to-offer-amazon-instant-video/">Amazon Instant Video app</a> available on PS3. Of course, we also answer a medley of great user questions, serve up another round of user-submitted tips, and Nick presents his choice for PSN Gem of the Week. Oh, and our very own Rey Gutierrez finally reveals his long-awaited Origin Story. Give it a listen and, as always, let us know what you think! More...

Since <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/02/07/ps3-system-software-update-v4-10/">PS3 system software update (v.4.10)</a> released in February, we’ve heard from some of you about a feature change that was introduced to the official Wireless Stereo Headset. I wanted to take the time to let you know that we have listened to your feedback and will be modifying the performance as part of a future firmware update. Let me provide the backstory. With the 4.10 update, we added a feature that enabled you to hear your own voice through the headset when playing multiplayer modes. This type of audio feedback, technically known as “sidetone,†was among the features requested by some of you (and some of the press) for multiplayer gameplay. Unfortunately the feature has had unintended effects in certain games, and, based on some of the feedback we’ve heard from the community, a solution to improve the performance is under development. More...

Greetings everyone! I’m dropping by to have a quick chat about <a href="https://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/disgaea-3-absence-of-detention/">Disgaea 3: Absence of Detention</a> as it will be hitting both <a href="https://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">PSN</a> and retailer shelves on April 17th, dood! Let's jump right into it and talk about some of the brand-new features for its <a href="https://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps-vita/">PS Vita</a> debut! For newcomers, <a href="http://us.playstation.com/psvita/games-and-media/psv-disgaea-3-absence-of-detention.html">Disgaea</a> is a turn-based strategy RPG where players can move and arrange their characters using a grid-based system to perform special attacks, or team up to do millions of points of damage (often in very comical cutscenes) against their opponents. Disgaea is also known for its wacky cast of characters, one being NIS America's awesome mascot, Prinny (highly disposable peon penguin demons that explode), all of which are illustrated by Takehito Harada. More...

We’re very excited to be launching the Pinball Arcade on the <a href="http://www.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/main">Sony Entertainment Network</a>. We have four great tables running on the most accurate pinball physics engine ever developed. What's more, The Pinball Arcade will offer players the ability to buy our game (and any DLC tables) once and own it on <em>both</em> the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PS3</a> and <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps-vita/">PS Vita</a> versions! The PS Vita version supports the front and rear touchscreen and will be a great way for people to play our game while they’re on the go. We can’t wait for the game to be launched on April 10th. We can confirm that the game will run at a smooth 60 frames per second, and the lighting effects and real-time reflections make the graphics look stunning. This is the best pinball simulation we’ve created so far! If you're a fan of either real pinball or video pinball, we’re pretty confident that you’re going to love our game. FarSight has been making digital pinball games for years! We have received overwhelming support by the mechanical pinball community – and these are the people who insist on realism in their pinball games. We have acquired licenses from Bally, Williams, Stern, Sega, Data East, Gottlieb, and obtained other ancillary rights like Monster Bash and Creature from the Black Lagoon from Universal to name just a couple. We are focused on building the greatest possible collection of classic tables that we could distribute digitally ourselves. More...

With just over a month until our May 8th release, the time to fully experience the virtual glory that is <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/starhawk/">Starhawk</a> is rapidly approaching. We figured what better way to raise the excitement level than to give you a first-hand look at some of the different vehicle options you'll have at your disposal when this innovative third-person shooter hits stores next month. We've said from the very beginning that <a href="http://us.playstation.com/games-and-media/games/starhawk-ps3.html">Starhawk</a> will have a broad range of intense air, ground, and vehicular combat so I think our new Ride, Die, and Fly trailer will certainly drive that point home. First up is the Sidewinder JetBike - basically a quick-strike hoverbike that's <em>very</em> fast, perfect for crazy jumps, and a lot of fun to drive. Next, the Razorback, which is similar to a buggy vehicle, a sturdy 4x4 that carries up to three players and comes with a mounted gun on the back, perfect for picking off Outcast scum in a hurry. More...

You camped out on your favorite ledges to earn the kickoff medal on the Highrise and Yemen maps. You’ve mastered sniping fools that run carelessly through the Desert Village and Airstrip. You’ve perfected your ninja stealth kills in the secluded nooks and crannies of the London Underground and City of Brass. Okay, maybe you haven’t perfected any of that yet. Maybe you’re just looking for something different and new. Whether you’re a rugged <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/uncharted-3-drakes-deception/">UNCHARTED 3</a> multiplayer fortune hunter or a causal explorer, this trailer should get you amped for Tuesday’s new multiplayer map pack. Four all-new <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/playstation-store/">UNCHARTED 3</a> multiplayer maps will be available for download on Tuesday, April 10th on PS Store. The <strong>Graveyard</strong> map sets you in motion as you fight among ships and shipping crates on rolling waves. <strong>Old Quarter</strong> seems like a lovely scene on a cool Yemen night, but it’s full of dangerous alleys and dimly lit rooms. The bar, the back alleys and the broadways of the <strong>London Streets</strong> map offer some prime spots for a knock-down, drag-out turf war, so be sure to stop by the Pelican Inn for some more brawling. The <strong>Oasis</strong> map used to provide respite for a Bedouin camp, but now serves as a sun-drenched battlefield for your multiplayer matches. More...

The grass is cut, the infield's been manicured, and the lines are chalked. That's right, the boys of summer are back and it's time to PLAY BALL as the 2012 Major League Baseball season will get underway tonight when the St. Louis Cardinals take on the Miami Marlins at their brand-new ballpark. I don't know about you, but I'm pretty excited to see what the defending World Series champions do against a revamped and rejuvenated Marlins club that is chock-full of new talent. And Miami's new stadium will be showcased on a national stage for the very first time. For those who haven't seen it yet, we gave fans a sneak peek at the new ballpark in South Beach earlier this year, courtesy of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/mlb-12-the-show/">MLB 12 The Show</a>, here's a link to the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/02/08/mlb-12-the-show-see-the-new-miami-marlins-ballpark/">video</a>. Simulating your favorite team with <a href="http://us.playstation.com/games-and-media/games/mlb-12-the-show-ps3.html?CMP=MLB12-GOOGSEM">The Show</a> is always a great way to get into the MLB spirit so to up the excitement level a bit more and to celebrate Major League Baseball's season opener, so check out our new MLB 12 The Show Opening Day trailer above! More...

Say <a href="http://us.playstation.com/games-and-media/games/way-of-the-samurai-ps2.html">WotS</a>?! You heard me right! Spike and Acquire’s Way of the Samurai 4 is confirmed for release in North America on the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PS3</a>, and we at <a href="http://www.xseedgames.com/">XSEED Games</a> are pleased to be bringing it to you fully uncut and uncensored. Torture chambers, naughty midnight missions in the dark and all the brutal slaughtering you can handle await in this riveting and 100% historically accurate <em>(shhhh!)</em> sandbox-style samurai period drama. Admiral Perry has just opened Japan’s borders to the British, allowing for a long-overdue globalization process to begin. Unfortunately, one of the open ports happens to be a modest Japanese burg called Amihama, where a resistance group known as the “Disciples of Prajna†have taken up arms against the arriving foreigners and all who support them. More...

Spring Fever takes a surprise victory lap with the addition of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/wheels-of-destruction/">Wheels of Destruction</a> to the roster. This fast paced dose of manic car mayhem puts you in the driver’s seat as you take down your enemies using a slew of different weapons vehicles. Choose from multiple car classes like Assassin, Heavy, and Scout, and then put the pedal to the metal to try and be the last road warrior standing. PlayStation Plus subscribers can hop into this new release for 20% off on the day it debuts on PSN. As if Wheels of Destruction wasn’t enough of an adrenaline rush, Spring Fever is keeping the meter in the red (blood red that is) with this week’s franchise sale of Mortal Kombat games and add-ons. The awesome Mortal Kombat DLC and classic MKs you know and love will be set on fire, covered in acid, and finally put on sale for 30% off.PlayStation Plus subscribers score a flawless victory with an over the top 50% discount. More...

This is the moment we’ve been waiting for all season: the season finale of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/the-tester/">The Tester 3</a>! Throughout this season, we’ve watched our three finalists conquer demanding challenges and overcome personal setbacks. In the final episode, the final three gamers go head-to-head in the most grueling challenge this season, and only one will win the opportunity of a lifetime to work as a Production Associate at Santa Monica Studio. As in previous seasons, today’s finale is the most action-packed episode of <a href="http://us.playstation.com/games-and-media/shows-and-tv-series/thetester/">The Tester</a> 3. It’s a grueling multi-mission challenge that will end with the final three gamers putting their gaming skills to the ultimate test by conquering an epic campaign mission in the upcoming third-person shooter <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/starhawk/">Starhawk</a>. No panel. No judges: the best gamer wins The Tester 3. If you can’t wait to watch this epic finale in HD, check out The Tester 3 Season Finale right here! (Please DO NOT spoil the ending for others in the comments!) More...

Hi again, PlayStation community. I’m here to bring some good news today: Amazon Instant Video is available now on <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">PlayStation Network</a>, making the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PS3</a> the first and only video game console to offer the service! Head on over to the TV/Video Services category of the XMB, where you can download and install the new Amazon Instant Video app right now for free. Once you launch the app, you’ll have instant access to thousands of streaming and downloadable movies and TV shows for rental or purchase. There are more than 120,000 commercial-free movies and TV shows for rental or purchase, including new releases, classic favorites, major TV shows, full seasons and even new episodes of some of your favorite TV shows the day after they air. Many of the DVD and Blu-Ray titles on Amazon.com are also offered on Amazon Instant Video available through this new app. More...

This Wednesday, April 4th will see yet another awesome <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/playstation-home/">PlayStation Home</a> update, with the arrival of the addictive new puzzler Clusterpuck, the highly-anticipated update to Aurora (v1.5), new Spring collectibles from Billabong, Lockwood Publishing and more! Here’s your weekly “To Do†list for <a href="http://us.playstation.com/psn/playstation-home/">PlayStation Home</a>: <strong>Clusterpuck</strong> – The latest addition to our long line of platform exclusive games, Clusterpuck is an arcade-style game developed by Codename (makers of Slap Happy Sam). Puck meets cluster in this maddeningly-addictive puzzler. Turn ‘em, match ‘em, and jam ‘em together to make ‘em fit; pile on wild pucks and power-ups to the mix and you’ve got one crazy puckin’ game! Check it out! More...

Hi, everyone. The next PS Vita System Software Update (v1.65) will be released soon and will include the following minor enhancements: <ul> <li>A "Notification Alert" option will be added to Settings, so you can toggle alerts on or off</li> <li>“After 10 minutes†will be added to the time options under Power Save Settings </li> <li>An Arrow icon will now appear when PS Vita finds new activities in the LiveArea</li> <li>Caps Lock will be supported in the On Screen Keyboard</li> </ul> More...

Party harder and faster this Easter with the Carnival Expansion for <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/motorstorm-rc/">MotorStorm RC</a>, available beginning Tuesday, April 3rd for $3.99 on <a href="http://us.playstation.com/psn/playstation-store/index.htm">PlayStation Store</a>! Take your radio-controlled racing rivalries to the next level as you compete for glory in a carnival park after-hours, battling for PlayStation Trophies and triple-medal status in every event to become champion of the biggest <a href="http://us.playstation.com/games-and-media/games/motorstorm-rc-ps3.html">MotorStorm RC</a> Festival to date. Take on 24 all-new Race, Pursuit, Hot Lap and Drift events, all staged in the Carnival Festival on six extreme racing circuits – with 72 medals to win before you challenge your friends and rivals worldwide to make sure you’re faster than them all on every event! Hunt down four new PlayStation Trophies (Bronze, Silver x2, Gold) on your way to triple-medalling all 24 new events and a Gold Trophy for becoming a super-quick Carnival Champion! Race and collect eight new vehicle models each with four Carnival-style liveries and also four color scheme choices per livery for a greater level of personalization – that’s 16 designs for each vehicle! More...

It's official: <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/spring-fever/">Spring Fever</a> has been elevated to a full-on pandemic and gamers everywhere are showing symptoms. Case in point: our week-one title <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/journey/">Journey</a> has become the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/03/29/journey-is-psns-fastest-selling-game-soundtrack-coming-soon/">fastest-selling PSN title</a> ever released by SCEA! Due to the overwhelming response to Spring Fever, we are delivering a bonus week packed with more special offers, starting with the multiplayer car combat game <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/03/29/wheels-of-destruction-weapon-guide/">Wheels of Destruction</a> and a 20% discount for PlayStation Plus members! <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/wheels-of-destruction/">Wheels of Destruction</a>'s vehicular mayhem gives you tons of <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/03/29/wheels-of-destruction-weapon-guide/">awesome weapons</a> to decimate your enemies in the multiplayer arena. You can learn more about Wheels of Destruction in a series of dev diaries and videos <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/wheels-of-destruction/">here</a>. More...

It’s time to venture down the rabbit hole in <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/littlebigplanet/">LittleBigPlanet</a> with the release of the new Alice in Wonderland Costume Pack based on Tim Burton’s movie adaption of the classic story, starring <a href="http://us.playstation.com/psvita/games-and-media/psv-littlebigplanet.html">LittleBigPlanet’s</a> very own narrator Stephen Fry as the Cheshire Cat! <h4>Coming This Week: Alice in Wonderland!</h4> Costumes include Alice, the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat and the Red Queen. Each costume will be available on the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/playstation-store/">PlayStation Store</a> individually, however if you purchase the full Alice in Wonderland Costume pack you will also receive some bonus Alice in Wonderland Stickers. More...

Good news! On April 10th, <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/escape-plan/">Escape Plan</a> owners will receive <strong>Bakuki’s Lair</strong>, the first DLC Pack for <a href="http://us.playstation.com/psvita/games-and-media/psv-escape-plan.html">Escape Plan</a>, via download of Patch 1.01. This <em>free</em> DLC Pack adds 19 prequel puzzle rooms to the adventures of Lil and Laarg. Our hapless heroes’ journey begins anew with Lil and Laarg trapped in a hazardous sausage factory, where they will become bratwurst if they don’t bail. You'll need to swipe for your life through a handful of dastardly designed puzzles in this latest update. More...

(He says with a smile...) As the self-appointed spokesperson for men everywhere I can personally attest to the widely unspoken truth than men indeed do some of their best work in their secondary “office." In fact, had I been given permission to test there, I guarantee I would have scored 175-250 points higher on my S.A.T.’s leading to my unfulfilled dream of attending an “accredited†college. Since that dream has long passed me by, I am left with the dilemma: such a throne of inspiration and enlightenment now left to its utilitarian purpose, what to do? Left to task, those minutes can seem like an eternity. Put to proper use they can be redeemed into many leg-numbingly wonderful times! The “Pick Up and Play†Gamers Oath: <em> On a bus, on a train. On a boat, on a plane. On a ladder, or a stool. In a garden, by the pool. Standing up, lying prone, or sitting quietly, on a throne. </em> More...

<p style="text-align: justify;">While taping episode <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/03/29/playstation-blogcast-018-six-degrees-of-assassins-creed-iii/">018 of PlayStation Blogcast</a>, I learned that the Devil May Cry HD Collection was confirmed for release this week. Luckily for you Blogcast listeners, <a href="http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/imagebuzz/web02/2010/1/7/22/window-horse-20723-1262921599-62.jpg">Nick</a> edited out the full minute of joyful squealing that ensued -- we need those ears for future episodes! So yes, I'll be happy to see Devil May Cry: HD Collection come to <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/ps3/">PS3</a> this week on a single Blu-ray Disc.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">On <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">PSN</a>, the vast and toxic*environments*of a post-apocalyptic*Earth are your primary adversary as you fight to survive in <a href="http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2012/03/20/i-am-alive-to-hit-psn-on-april-4/">I Am Alive</a>. You'll also get a front-row ticket to <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/category/psn/">PSN</a> multiplayer car combat with Wheels of Destruction: World Tour. Enjoy this week's <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/tag/the-drop/">The Drop</a>.</p> More...